What is ethical dilemma?

An ethical dilemma, also known as a moral dilemma or ethical paradox, is a situation where an individual faces conflicting moral obligations, none of which clearly overrides the others. This creates a challenging decision-making process because no matter which option is chosen, some ethical principle or value will be compromised or violated123. Ethical dilemmas often involve "right versus right" choices, where both options seem morally justifiable, making the decision particularly difficult3.

Key Characteristics of Ethical Dilemmas:

• Conflicting Obligations: The dilemma arises from two or more moral obligations that cannot be fulfilled simultaneously.
• No Clear Solution: There is no obvious right or wrong choice; both options may have valid moral justifications.
• Compromise Required: Regardless of the decision, some ethical principle will be compromised.
• Psychological Difficulty: Ethical dilemmas often evoke feelings of guilt or moral residue, regardless of the choice made24.

Types of Ethical Dilemmas:

• Epistemic vs. Ontological: Epistemic dilemmas arise from uncertainty about which moral requirement takes precedence, while ontological dilemmas involve genuine conflicts between moral obligations2.
• Self-Imposed vs. World-Imposed: Self-imposed dilemmas result from the agent's actions, while world-imposed dilemmas arise from external circumstances2.

Examples:

• A classic example is Plato's scenario where one must choose between keeping a promise to return a weapon to a friend who might use it to harm others, and preventing harm by not returning the weapon2.
• Another example is Jean-Paul Sartre's student who must decide between joining the French Resistance or staying with his ailing mother during World War II2.